The Central Chargers won the 2012 State Bank and Trust Company Holiday Classic with a 70-61 victory over Dublin in the boys’ championship game on Saturday night.

Tournament MVP Joshua Evins scored 23 points to pace the Chargers in the title game, and Quintavius Virgil added 21.

Central, which defeated First Presbyterian Day 78-67 in the opening round on Thursday and host Jones County 53-45 on Friday, took an early lead over the Irish on Saturday and gradually increased its lead on the way to victory.

It was Central’s third championship in the 22 years of the Christmas tournament, but the first since 1994.

Marcus Brown scored 17 points to lead Dublin, which has won the tournament five times previously, the last time in 2006. The Irish downed Washington County 64-52 and Salem 63-56 to advance to the championship game.

Evins, a senior guard, scored 48 points in the tournament for the Chargers to capture the MVP award.